Consumer Reports (3/18, Carr) reported that “new guidelines call for fewer people to get antibiotics before a dental procedure.” The article noted that updated “treatment guidelines for dentists (3/20) now advise antibiotics before dental procedures for only a few types of patients such as those with artificial heart valves, a history that includes a heart infection, or who were born with certain serious heart defects.” The article added that this means antibiotics are not indicated for most patients prior to dental work.

MouthHealthy.org provides additional information on antibiotic prophylaxis for heart patients. Additional information on antibiotic prophylaxis for dental patients with prosthetic joints and orthopedic implants is also available at MouthHealthy.org, which notes, “The American Dental Association has found it is no longer necessary for most dental patients with orthopedic implants to have antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection.”